The Miami Dolphins are entering a period of uncertainty, as reports suggest wide receiver Jaylen Waddle could be preparing to leave, following the high-profile exit of Tyreek Hill after his season-ending injury in 2025.
Miami has already initiated a roster overhaul, releasing Hill, pass rusher Bradley Chubb, wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and offensive lineman James Daniels.
The moves signal a shift toward rebuilding under head coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Waddle‘s situation adds a layer of complexity, as the star receiver was heavily pursued during last season’s trade deadline. NFL insider Tom Pelissero noted the Buffalo Bills led the chase, though Miami ultimately retained him.
Since entering the league in 2021, Waddle has been remarkably consistent, surpassing 5,000 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns, while drawing 100 or more targets in four of five seasons. He has proven capable of being a primary option.
Still, trading him within the division would be delicate. Teams rarely strengthen direct rivals, and moving Waddle to Buffalo could ignite backlash among Dolphins fans, even if Miami received top draft compensation in return.
With free agency approaching, speculation intensifies. Executive Brandon Beane is expected to evaluate all options, though offers will likely depend on Miami’s willingness to part with their star receiver and the type of return proposed.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell suggests the Dolphins would likely demand a first-round pick due to Waddle‘s team-friendly deal and lack of proven alternatives, making a trade complicated for potential suitors despite his affordability and production.
Could Tyreek Hill go to the Kansas City Chiefs?
The Dolphins‘ flurry of moves included Hill, a perennial deep-threat and eight-time Pro Bowler, now entering free agency while rehabbing from a serious leg injury suffered in Week 4 of 2025.
Hill‘s release, alongside Chubb, Daniels, and Westbrook-Ikhine, clears over $56 million in cap space, enabling Miami to reshape the roster, but it also leaves a notable void in playmaking ability in the passing game.
During his four seasons in Miami, Hill totaled 11,363 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns on 819 catches. His 2022 trade from Kansas City produced two seasons of 1,700-plus yards, and in 2023 he led the league in receiving yards (1,799) and touchdowns (13).
The Chiefs now need help for Patrick Mahomes, and with Hill potentially representing too much money for too much risk elsewhere, could he step back into the environment that made him the most feared receiver in the NFL to begin with?
Meanwhile, Waddle remains in a precarious spot as his production and relative youth make him highly valuable, yet Miami’s ongoing rebuild raises questions about whether he will follow Hill out the door.
That’s leaving the Dolphins forced to decide between long-term flexibility and immediate competitiveness as they enter a new era, shortly after firing Mike McDaniel and finishing third in the AFC East.
Read the full article here
